Combined heater and muffler device



Oct. 9, 1928.

Filed Aug. 22, 1927 Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILVER F. MARK, OF BUTLER, INDIANA.

COMBINED HEATER AND MUFFLER DEVICE.

Application filed August 22, 1927. Serial No. 214,573.

The present invention relates to combined heater and muffler devices, which are especially adapted to be employed in connection with motor vehicles, motor boats, airplanes, or other structures wherein an engine of the explosion type is employed, and the main object of the inventionis to utilize for further heating purposes the heat present in the exhaust. of an explosive engine which under ordinary conditions is wholly lost as it passes through the muffler.

As is well known to those skilled in the art. in the operation of automobiles, motor boats, airplanes, and similar devices, and particularly those of the explosive engine type, the exhaust from the engine is expelled to the atmosphere at an exceedingly high temperature, and in passing through the exhaust conduit the latter is heated to a comparatively high temperature, in some cases the same being heated to approximately a red heat, and the main object of my present invention is to utilize this heated surface and direct a current of heated air into a compartment of the motor vehicle, boat or other structure in conjunction with which the heater is employed.

To the above ends this invention consists of a novel and simplified combined heater and muffler which is adapted to utilize the heat absorbed from the exhaust conduit of an explosive engine as well as muftl'e the same.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, as shown in the accompanying drawings, one form is at present preferred, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrument-alities of which this invention consists, can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

A further object of the invention is to construct an efficient muffler in combination with an equally eflicient heater and which may be manufactured inexpensively.

Figure 1 represents a side view of the combined heater and muffler.

Fig. 2 represents a rear view of the invention.

Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectional view near the front end of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a front view of the device. showing particularly the air inlet and outlet. i

Fig. 5 represents a sectional View of the invention taken on the lines SS of Figs. 2, 3 andAc.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Now referring to the drawings: 1 designatesthe outer casing of the muffler section, and at the forward end thereof, a front cap plate 2 is aflixed thereto. The front cap plate 2 is provided with two similar air ports 3, either of which may serve as the inlet or outlet.

The inlet, of course leads from a fresh air supply (not shown) and the outlet likewise leads from a floor compartment of an automobile or like structure (not shown):

Exhaust pipe 4 is in communication with the hot gases drawn from an engine man"- fold, (not shown) and this exhaust pipe 1 is concentrically arranged within the casing 1. At the rear end of the device, a rear cap plate 5 is secured to this end of the device by means of a screw threaded pipe cap 6 as illustrated in Figures land 5.

An outside concentrically arranged muffler heatingchamber is formed by the easing wall 1 and the adjacent smaller casing 7. Another casing wall 8 is concentrically arranged within the casing wall 7 thereby forming a fresh air chamber that is to be heated externally by the first mentioned chamber. This fresh air chamber is preferably divided up into four compartments bylongitudinal dividing walls 9, 10, 11, and 12 respectively, which compartments, however form a continuous passage with each other, as these walls are opened near the front cap plate 2 and rear cap plate 5, so that inlet and outlet communication is had with the two ports 3 and longitudinal compartments.

In order to internally heat the fresh air chamber, hot exhaust supply pipe t is concentrically arranged within casing wall 8, thereby forming an inner muffler chamber by said casing Walls 4 and 8. However, in order to permit the hot gas to pass from one muffler chamber to another, the rear end of exhaust pipe is provided with a plurality of openings 14, through which the hot gas must escape and then travel forward to the front section of the device. At the forward end of the device, a tube passage-way 13 is provided, which tube 13 connects the inner and outer muffler chambers, thereby permitting the escape of the hot gases from the inner muffler to the outside muffler as will be seen by referring especially to Figure 3 of the drawings.

On the rear cap plate 5, there is an opening 17 which allows the muffled spent hot gases to pass out into the atmosphere. In assembling this device, it should be noted that the exhaust pipe 4Jis providedwith a circular flange 16, against which flange the pipe cap acting as a nut threaded on the extreme end of exhaust pipe 4 holds the whole device together: as a unit.

It will thus be apparent that the fresh air chamber is heated internally as well as externally by the hot exhaust gas supplied by exhaust pipe 4 due to the arrangement of the inner and outer muffler chambers.

The novel .device is particularly well adapted for employment in connection with automobiles having a closed body, and the temperature within the same is raised to a considerable degree above that of the outside air, and the automobile is made exceedingly comfortable for use in cold weather.

It is to be noted that the heated air is free from noxious gases or any impurities, since the device is supplied with pure atmospheric air which is heated only by its contact with the outside of the exhaust conduit and the heat radiating therefrom.

It will be evident that I have provided a a novel form of heating and muffler device which may be readily adjusted to anytype of explosive engine exhaust construction, and

it is unnecessary to change in any manner the general construction or operating mecha nism of the motor vehicle, airplane, boat or other structure in conjunction with which the same is employed, and it is simply necessary to provide a suitable register to an air outlet in the compartment which it is desired to heat.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of an automobile heater which embodies the fea tures of advantages enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to beunderstood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A combined heater and muflier device, comprising an outer muffler chamber, a fresh air chamber concentrically arranged within said outer muffler chamber, said fresh air chamber being subdivided by walls into four longitudinal interconnecting passage-way compartments, inlet and outlet ports in said fresh air chamber, a second muffler chamber concentrically arranged within said fresh air chamber, thereby serving to heat said fresh air chamber internally, said muffler chambers in communication with each other for the reception of exhaust gas by means of a tubular passage-Way housed in said fresh air chamber, one of said muffler chambers having an exhaust port, for the purpose set forth.

2. A combined heater and muffler device, comprising an outer muffler chamber, a fresh air chamber concentrically arranged within and next to said outer muffler chamber, said fresh air chamber being subdivided by walls into four longitudinal inter-connecting passage-way compartments, inlet and outlet ports in said fresh air chamber, a second muffler chamber concentrically arranged within and next to said fresh air chamber, a third muffler chamber concentrically arranged within and next to said second muffler chamber, said first muffler chamber serving to heat said fresh air chamber externally,

said second and third muffler chambers serv- 9 ing to heat said fresh air chamber internally, each of said muffler chambers being in communication with each other for the reception of exhaust gas, and communication between said first and second chambers being effected by means of tube passageway housed in said fresh air chamber, one of said muffler chambers having an exhaust port, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

WILVER F. MARK. 

